Doncaster's new High Speed Rail college steams ahead as plans are given green light

This is the latest milestone for the college that will seek to develop the highly skilled workforce required to build HS2 and other infrastructure projects in the future.

Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said of the news: “The National College for High Speed Rail is progressing at a rapid rate of knots.”

She added: “With planning approval secured it signals the green light for this transformational project to move into its construction phase.”

Terry Morgan, chairman of the corporate board for the National College for High Speed Rail, said: “This is a significant step forward in the development of the National College for High

Speed Rail and I am delighted that planning permission has been granted for the college at Lakeside in Doncaster. The college will have a hugely positive impact on the ability of the UK

rail supply industry to develop a multi-skilled specialist British workforce that is essential to the timely delivery of HS2 and the ability to respond to other infrastructure projects in future.”

The National College for High Speed rail will have two main sites, one in Doncaster and one in Birmingham.

Following the borough being chosen as the location for one of the college sites last year, Doncaster Council’s project team has carried out significant work in partnership with Birmingham

City Council and HS2 Ltd to deliver the college.

A spokesman for the local authority told the Free Press that ‘lots of work’ has taken place in order to ensure that the borough benefits at every stage of the major scheme.

Last month, over 90 representatives from local firms attended a supplier engagement and networking event organised by Doncaster Council’s Business Doncaster team and Willmott Dixon – the contractor appointed to build the college in Doncaster.

The council said this formed part of its commitment to support Doncaster companies and provide them with opportunities to win work during construction.

Mayor Ros Jones, added: “The National College for High Speed Rail is a game changer for Doncaster, the Sheffield City Region, Yorkshire and the North. It will encourage new investment, attract new companies into the borough and provide new high quality jobs for local people. We are on a fast track to deliver a major boost for our growing rail sector and the Doncaster economy.”

Construction of the 7,200 square metre three-storey building is scheduled to start in April 2016.

The £25million training facility will open its doors for the first intake of students in September 2017.

HS2 will support up to 100,000 jobs nationwide, create 2,000 apprenticeships and around 25,000 jobs during the first construction phases.